Koh Comfort

[adifferentlife]

Her days at the hospital have been long since the faceless victims started arriving. With no idea what is causing it or how they can even breathe, it's been important to watch and record every moment of their time at the hospital. A task that has fallen to Sybil as a nurse's aide and even the other late term nursing students, in an attempt to relieve the burden on the nurses and doctors.

Still, she's not home much after dinner tonight, exhausted though she may be. Sybil had called Henri on a quick break, asking him to meet her at her apartment and to bring dinner if he might. All she wishes to do is to see him and curl up in his arms and hear that all will be well, even if it truly will not.

Comments

[jaimemieux]

“No need for thanks, ma chere. You know I am always happy to be here.” Henri brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “Should we watch a film, perhaps, to keep your mind off other matters? Or would you prefer to talk?"

[adifferentlife]

Yet she always will thank him, never wanting him to think she's trying to take advantage or take him for granted. Sybil considers, deciding. "A movie. I should like a while to think of nothing important."

[jaimemieux]

“Bon.” Pulling himself away from her arms for now, Combeferre sought the small pile of films that had begun to gather next to Sybil’s television, bought from stores or borrowed from friends and co-workers, eager to assist in their cinematic education. Something light was needed on a night like this, a story without the weight of Casablanca, and Combeferre quickly found one that seemed well-suited to cheering Sybil up. “Roman Holiday,” he read, holding up one of the boxes. “Do you know of it?"

[adifferentlife]

"No," she admits, letting him look as she settles on the lounge with her wine nearby. "But I did love the time we visited Rome, even if it was 'filled with outrageous Italians'," she adds the last with a fond smile, remembering the Dowager Countess' words fondly.

[jaimemieux]

“I would be concerned if Rome was not full of Italians,” Combeferre observed with a chuckle. “Let us see what sort of trouble they find, then?” He slipped the disk into the machine and returned to the sofa, slipping his arm around Sybil as he did so.

[adifferentlife]

"My Grandmother would also complain that France was very full of the French," she answered teasingly, stretching to kiss him before settling against his side. "Something I've never minded at all."

[jaimemieux]

“I should introduce your grandmother to my friend Courfeyrac. He once traveled to London and was fond of saying it was a most depressing place, on account of the rain and the overabundance of Englishmen.” Combeferre squeezed her gently as the television screen filled with color and the film’s opening music began to play. “But I am glad to hear you hold much more leniency towards we French as a nation."

[adifferentlife]

She has to giggle at that, imagining the horror of those two having a conversation. "Made even more lenient through the Frenchmen of my acquaintance."

[jaimemieux]

Combeferre laughed and dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “Then I have been a positive influence.” A pause. “I am glad to see you smile, cherie."

[adifferentlife]

It's such a change from when she first came into her rooms, and she's glad of it too. "I am as well. Thank you, my darling."